Download invertebrates - Scottsdale Community College

INVERTEBRATE SPECIES AT SCOTTSDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
INDEX OF 26 SPECIES (24 have descriptions)
Text written by staff. Photos by Roy Barnes, Emma Olsen and Dr. John Weser.
INSECTS:
Ants:
Desert Harvester Ants
Bees:
Carpenter Bee
Honey Bee
Leaf-cutter Bee species
Beetles:
Palo Verde Root Borer
Bugs:
Aphid species
Cochineal Bug
Giant Mesquite Bug
Milkweed Bug
Butterflies and Moths:
Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
Gulf Frittilary
Monarch Butterfly
Painted Lady Butterfly
Queen Butterfly
Viceroy Butterfly
Dragonflies and Damselflies:
Various species
Grasshoppers, Mantids and Kin:
Praying Mantis species
Steel-blue Cricket Hunter
Mosquitoes and Flies:
Wasps:
Mosquito species
Tarantula Hawk Wasp
Umbrella Wasp
ARACHNIDS:
Spiders:
Black Widow Spider
Cellar Spider species
Flower (Crab) Spider species
Jumping Spider species
Wolf Spider species
CARPENTER BEE (XYLOCOPA SPP.)
Scientific Name: Xylocopa spp.
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Diet: Feeds on pollen, nectar, and oils from flowering plants.
Vegetation Association: Pollinates Desert Senna, Devil’s Claw and other flowering
plants. Can be found near blooming ocotillos. They make their nests by chewing holes
in wood. Their burrows are lined with waxy secretions produced from glands in the
abdomen. The female forms the rounded cells and lays an egg in each one.
Predators: Many species of mammals, insects, birds, lizards, spiders and other
arachnids.
Life Stages: Egg, larva, pupa, adult.
Notes: A bee stinger has developed from the egg laying tube, therefore only females
sting. Bees serve a vital role in pollination: 30% of our agricultural crops require bees for
pollination. They are generally not social. The Carpenter Bee gets its name from its
ability to eat through wood with strong mouth parts. They will chase birds and people
who get too close.
Photo: to be added.
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HONEY BEE (APIS MELLIFERA)
Scientific Name: Apis mellifera
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Apidae
Diet: Feeds on pollen, nectar, and
oils from flowering plants.
Vegetation Association: Pollinates
saguaro.
Predators: Many species of
mammals, insects, birds, lizards,
spiders and other arachnids.
Life Stages: Complete
metamorphosis: egg, larvae, pupae,
adult.
Notes: This is an introduced species
in Arizona. Has a barbed stinger that cannot be withdrawn, but detaches itself from the
bees' body; the bee later dies.
Photo: Main photo above was taken at Jewel of the Creek at Cave Creek on
September 29, 2007. More photos from CNUW's biodiversity sites are available below.
Coon Bluff:
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LEAF-CUTTER BEE SPECIES
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Megachilidae
Diet:
Vegetation Association: Roses, bougainvillea, ash or any other plant with smooth thin
leaves is selected for cutting. The female makes her nest in hollow plant stems or
tunnels in bored wood, she places petals or leaves which she has cut in the nest, she
uses a mixture with pollen and nectar on top of the leaves, then she lays her egg. When
the egg hatches it eats the food provided.
Predators:
Life Stages: Complete metamorphosis: egg, larvae, pupa, adult.
Notes: This is a solitary bee. This bee gets its name from cutting ovals and circles into
plant petals and leaves.
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PALO VERDE ROOT BORER (DEROBRACHUS GEMINATUS)
Scientific Name: Derobrachus geminatus
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Cerambycidae
Diet: Palo Verde trees serve as host plants for larva which feed on the roots.
Vegetation Association: Palo Verde trees.
Predators: Lizards, wood rats, and skunks.
Life Stages: They hatch from eggs into larva and will spend as long as 3 years
underground feeding on the roots of the Palo Verde tree. They will eventually leave the
ground through holes around the roots of the tree. Adults look like cockroaches and lay
eggs in the soil. Adults will come out during the summer time and the early evening
when there is lightning.
Notes: This is one on the largest beetles in North America.
Photo: To be added.
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APHID SPP.
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Aphididae
Diet: Plant sap.
Vegetation Association: Very plant specific. Each individual species can usually only live
off of certain host plants; i.e. oleander, milkweed, etc. Each colony on a plant is started
by a single female; when the colony gets crowded young develop into winged adults
that go through a flying period before finding a new plant. The colonies extract liquids
from plants, which may cause the curling of leaves or even death.
Predators: Lady beetles, lady bugs, lady birds, hoverfly larvae, lacewings, and
parasites.
Life Stages: Parthenogenesis, a process by which the eggs develop without fertilization
by a male and hatch into genetic replicas of the mother.
Notes: Also known as plant lice. They can transmit plant viruses to their food plants
which may kill the plants. They are small enough to be transported by wind. They
produce anal secretions or “Honeydew” that attract many species of ants.
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COCHINEAL BUG
Order:
Family: Dactylopiidae
Diet: Cacti.
Vegetation Association: Can be seen
on cacti underneath the white fluffy
material. This white material they secrete
from abdominal glands.
Predators: Ladybird beetle, small moths
in the caterpillar stage.
Life Stages: Incomplete metamorphosis;
egg, nymph, adult.
Notes: Have been ground up and used
by native peoples to dye textiles red or
purple. This is an aphid.
Photo: Taken at Jewel of the Creek at
Cave Creek on September 29, 2007. The bugs are the white blotches on the pricklypear cactus. More photos from CNUW's biodiversity sites are available below.
Jewel of the Creek at Cave Creek:
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GIANT MESQUITE BUG (THASUS ACUTANGULUS)
Scientific Name: Thasus acutangulus
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Coreidae
Diet: Eats stems and pods of Mesquite during the summer months.
Vegetation Association: Mesquite tree. Nymphs are a red color and can be found
feeding together on mesquite pods.
Predators: The coloring of giant mesquite bugs warns predators that they are
distasteful.
Life Stages: Incomplete metamorphosis; egg nymph, adult. The eggs look like small
brown pillows in rows on the stems of the mesquite. Eggs hatch in the spring, mate, and
live through the end of the summer. They leave their eggs to over-winter until the
following spring.
Notes: When handled they produce a potent sticky secretion.
Photos: to be added.
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MILKWEED BUG (LYGAEUS KALMII)
Scientific Name: Lygaeus kalmii
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Lygaeidae
Diet: Seeds and foliage of milkweed plant.
Vegetation Association: Milkweed plants.
Predators: Few predators. Milkweed bugs do not taste good. They warn their would-be
predators of this foul taste with their bright coloring.
Life Stages: Incomplete metamorphosis; egg, nymph, adult.
Notes: They are orange-red and black in color. They inject enzymes into their food to
aid in digestion. They help to control populations of milkweed plants. This is the small
species of milkweed bug.
Photo: To be added.
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GIANT SWALLOWTAIL (PAPILIO CRESPHONTES)
Scientific Name: Papilio cresphontes
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Papilionidae
Diet: Caterpillars feed on citrus plants, prickly ash and hop trees. Adults feed on nectar
from lantana, azalea, bougainvillea, bouncing bet and swamp milkweed.
Vegetation Association: Trees and herbs in the citrus family, prickly ash, and hop tree.
They are found in rocky or sandy hillsides near streams or gullies, in pine flats, towns,
and citrus groves.
Predators: Birds.
Life Stages: Complete metamorphosis; egg, larva, pupa, adult.
Notes: Young caterpillars feed and shed their skin, or molt. The final molt produces the
pupa, and then the butterfly rests. Once free of the chrysalis, fluid from its body is
pumped into its wings, the wings then are allowed to dry before it flies away to look for
food and a mate. They are known as Orange Dogs to citrus farmers because of their
destructive habits. To defend themselves against birds they extend a reddish
osmeterium (a fleshy organ) that releases foul smelling pheromones. The larvae are
also camouflaged to resemble bird droppings. Males patrol for receptive females.
Photo: To be added.
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GULF FRITTILARY (AGRAULIS VANILLAE INCARNATE)
Scientific Name: Agraulis vanillae
incarnate
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Diet: As caterpillars they feed only on
passion vines.
Vegetation Association: Ornamental
native passion vines are host plants.
Females oviposit on related plants.
Predators: Both caterpillars and
butterflies are poisonous and are
avoided by most birds.
Life Stages: Complete metamorphosis; egg, larva, pupa, adult.
Notes: Young caterpillars feed and shed their skin, or molt. The final molt produces the
pupa, and then the butterfly rests. Once free of the chrysalis, fluid from its body is
pumped into its wings, the wings then are allowed to dry before it flies away to look for
food and a mate.
Photo: Taken at Scottsdale Community College on November 19, 2006.
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MONARCH BUTTERFLY (DANAUS PLEXIPPU)
Scientific Name: Danaus plexippu
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Diet: Larvae feed only on plants from the milk-weed family.
Vegetation Association: Plants from the milk-weed family are very important for this
species; they are used for breeding and feeding. Milk-weed plants are poisonous and by
digesting them the Monarch avoids predation by birds.
Predators: Black-headed Grosbeak.
Life Stages: Complete metamorphosis; egg, larva, pupa, adult.
Notes: Can be found with or after the rains. Migrates large distances every year and can
be seen in late summer and early fall during its migration. Young caterpillars feed and
shed their skin, or molt. The final molt produces the pupa, and then the butterfly rests.
Once free of the chrysalis, fluid from its body is pumped into its wings, the wings then
are allowed to dry before it flies away to look for food and a mate. Flies with its wings in
a “V” shape.
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PAINTED LADY (VANESSA CARDUI)
Scientific Name: Vanessa cardui
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Diet: Larvae eat thistles.
Vegetation Association: Host plants
are in the sunflower family. Found in
open fields with thistles.
Predators:
Life Stages: Complete metamorphosis;
egg, larva, pupa, adult.
Notes: Migratory, normal habitats
include desert. Young caterpillars feed
and shed their skin, or molt. The final molt produces the pupa, and then the butterfly
rests. Once free of the chrysalis, fluid from its body is pumped into its wings, the wings
then are allowed to dry before it flies away to look for food and a mate. This is a brushfooted butterfly.
Photo: Taken at Brown's Ranch on April 18, 2003. More photos from CNUW's
biodiversity sites are available below. Click on an image to see a larger version.
Brown's Ranch:
Riparian Institute at Gilbert Water Ranch:
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QUEEN BUTTERFLY (DANAUS GILIPPUS)
Scientific Name: Danaus gilippus
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Diet: Larvae feed only on plants from the milk-weed family.
Vegetation Association: Can be found in riparian habitat. Host plant is milkweed. Both
caterpillars and butterflies are poisonous and avoid predation by birds.
Predators: Green lynx spider is a known predator.
Life Stages: Complete metamorphosis; egg, larva, pupa, adult.
Notes: Young caterpillars feed and shed their skin, or molt. The final molt produces the
pupa, and then the butterfly rests. Once free of the chrysalis, fluid from its body is
pumped into its wings, the wings then are allowed to dry before it flies away to look for
food and a mate. They can often be seen with the arrival of rain.
Photos: To be added.
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VICEROY BUTTERFLY (LIMENITIS ARCHIPPUS)
Scientific Name: Limenitis archippus
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Diet: Host plants are willow and aspen.
Vegetation Association: Can be found around their main larval foods.
Predators: Birds prey on them to some degree despite their bitter taste. In the chrysalis
stage they resemble bird droppings which helps deter predation.
Life Stages: Complete metamorphosis; egg, larva, pupa, adult.
Notes: Young caterpillars feed and shed their skin, or molt. The final molt produces the
pupa, and then the butterfly rests. Once free of the chrysalis, fluid from its body is
pumped into its wings, the wings then are allowed to dry before it flies away to look for
food and a mate. This butterfly mimics the Queen or Monarch which helps to deter
predators.
Photos: to be added.
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DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES
Order: Odonata
Family: various
Diet: They are insect feeders as adults
and nymphs and eat small crustaceans
as adults.
Vegetation Association: They are found
in riparian habitats such as stream pools.
Eggs can be found beneath stones under
the water line.
Predators: Birds.
Life Stages: Incomplete metamorphosis; egg, nymph, adult.
Notes: Dragonflies extend their wings outward and damselflies wings are held over
their backs. Some species of damselflies have hooks for pulling out sperm deposited by
another male. Dragonfly nymphs have posteriors that suck oxygenated water into their
bodies. Many of these nymphs can dart through the water by forcing water out of their
systems. As nymphs they have retractable mouth parts that can extend up to 2-3 head
lengths. They will defend their feeding and reproductive territories against other
dragonflies. Dragonflies can travel at up to 35 mph.
Photo: Taken on August 1, 2006. More photos from CNUW's biodiversity sites are
available below.
Riparian Institute at Gilbert Water Ranch:
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PRAYING MANTIS SPECIES
Order: Mantodea
Family: Mantidae
Diet: Insects. Have been known to catch and eat hummingbirds.
Vegetation Association: Can be found in dense vegetation, lays eggs in a foamy mass
that are usually attached to branches or man-made structures.
Predators: Frogs, spiders, bats, and snakes. Or each other during the nymph stage and
during mating.
Life Stages: Incomplete Metamorphosis; eggs, nymph, adult
Notes: Their body coloring mimics that of green plant stems and leaves or desert soil.
They have rapid reflexes and good vision. Mating can be hazardous for the male
because the female may start eating him.
Photos: To be added.
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STEEL-BLUE CRICKET HUNTER (SPHEX PENNSYLVANICUS)
Scientific Name: Sphex pennsylvanicus
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Sphecidae
Diet: Adults feed on nectar and larva feed on crickets and grasshoppers.
Vegetation Association: Attracted to the bruised stem of desert broom brush
Predators:
Life Stages: Complete metamorphosis; egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Females will
paralyze an insect, mainly crickets and grasshoppers, and lay the eggs on them for the
larvae to feed upon.
Notes: They sting and paralyze insects before eating them. They have a life span of
only a few weeks.
Photo: To be added.
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TARANTULA HAWK WASP (PEPSIS SPP.)
Scientific Name: Pepsis spp.
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Pompilidae
Diet: Tarantula spiders in the larval stage and nectar from
brittlebush and other desert flowers as adults.
Vegetation Association: Can be found in dry desert hills
and valleys wherever there are tarantula spiders.
Predators: Roadrunners.
Life Stages: Complete metamorphosis; egg, larvae,
pupa, adult.
Notes: The female will search for tarantulas and bite onto
its leg and inject paralyzing venom. The host is then dragged to its burrow where the
wasp lays an egg on or near it. This is a solitary wasp whose sting is excruciating.
Photo: Taken at Brown's Ranch on March 4, 2004.
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UMBRELLA WASP SPECIES
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae
Diet: Insects, larvae are feed chewed up insects.
Vegetation Association: Will nest in dead palm tree leaves or under a man-made
structure. The queen winters behind tar paper, inside enclosures, or in deep rock
cracks. She will build a nest in the spring. She lays an egg in each of the cells that she
constructs.
Predators:
Life Stages: Complete Metamorphosis; egg, larvae, pupa, adult.
Notes: Also known as paper wasps. They gather fibers from dried plant stems which
they mix with saliva to construct nests that are water-resistant. The nests look like they
are made of paper.
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BLACK WIDOW SPIDER (LATRODECTUS HESPERUS)
Scientific Name: Latrodectus hesperus
Order: Araneae
Family: Theridiidae
Diet: Eats insects that it traps in its web.
Vegetation Association: They are common around man-made structures such as
garages, woodpiles, or lawn furniture.
Predators: Egg sacs are preyed upon by the flightless scelionid wasp and members of
the chloropid fly genus. Adults are preyed upon by a few wasps including the blue mad
dauber and the spider wasp.
Life Stages: The female mates only once in her lifetime, and lays about 300 eggs. The
male is sometimes eaten by the female after mating.
Notes: Female has a distinctive red-orange hourglass marking on her underside. The
male is less than half the size of the female. They are shy, sedentary, and mostly
nocturnal. They can be potentially dangerous to humans.
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CELLAR SPIDER
Order: Araneae
Family: Pholcidae
Diet: Some may invade the webs of other spiders and eat the host the eggs and the
prey. The spider may vibrate the web in order to attract the host spider.
Vegetation Association: They construct webs in dark and damp caves, rocks, loose
bark, abandoned animal burrows, or inactive buildings. They hang inverted in messy,
irregular webs.
Predators: Spider wasps in the family Pompilidae.
Life Stages:
Notes: They get the name “cellar spider because they can be found in abandoned
buildings.
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FLOWER (CRAB) SPIDERS
Order: Araneae
Family: Thomisidae
Diet: Insects and arthropods.
Vegetation Association: They are most often found on flowers waiting for prey. They do
not build webs to trap prey.
Predators: Spider wasps in the family Pompilidae.
Life Stages: Incomplete metamorphosis; egg, nymph, adult.
Notes: They are called “crab spiders” because their first two pairs of legs are held out to
the side and they can easily move sideways and backwards.
Photo: To be added.
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JUMPING SPIDERS
Order: Araneae
Family: Salticoidea
Diet: Feeds by jumping on insects and capturing them. They may include nectar in their
diet.
Vegetation Association:
Predators: Spider wasps in the family Pompilidae.
Life Stages: Incomplete metamorphosis; egg, nymph, adult
Notes: Its eyesight is better than other spiders and most insects.
Photos: To be added.
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WOLF SPIDER (HOGNA CAROLINENSIS)
Scientific Name: Hogna carolinensis
Order: Araneae
Family: Lycosidae
Diet: Insects and arthropods.
Vegetation Association: They are
most often found in the Arizona upland.
They live in burrows that have turrets of
silk and twigs which vertically extend
from the hole. When mating the male
must give the female the appropriate
signals so she is aware that he is not a
threat. He will tap his legs and drum
with his palms. The egg case stays with
the female wherever she goes. She may sun the egg case. Young disperse by
ballooning.
Predators: Spider wasps in the family Pompilidae.
Life Stages: The female carries the eggs with her attached to her spinnerets. After they
hatch she carries them on her abdomen for about a month.
Notes: Primarily nocturnal predators. They chase down their prey, and rely on good
eyesight. They may live up to two years.
Photo: A funnel-weaving wolf spider; photo taken at Jewel of the Creek at Cave Creek
on September 29, 2007. More photos from CNUW's biodiversity sites are available
below.
Jewel of the Creek at Cave Creek:
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